Antipicking device



June 23, 1942. G. E. MITCHELL 2,287,190

ANTIPICKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 30, 1940 INVENTOR. GLENN E. MITCHELL WQM ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 23, 1942 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTIPICKING DEVICE Glenn E. Mitchell, Hayward, Calif.

Application January 30, 1940, Serial No. 316,345

11 Claims. (01. 119-97) My invention relates to anti-picking devices for poultry and more particularly of the type adapted for attachment to the beak of such birds.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide an improved anti-picking device of the above type (1) which may be fabricated in one piece, (2) which shall be exceedingly light in weight but nevertheless quite durable, (3) which will not interfere with the normal feeding or breeding functions of birds, (4) which will enable a bird to which it is attached, to become accustomed to the same in a shorter time period than with other devices proposed for the same purpose, (5) which can be applied in position within time and with little effort, and when once applied, will remain securely in place, (6) which will automatically center itself in proper position on the beak of the bird, (7) which shall present no corners nor extensions capable of catching onto or becomingentangled in the chicken screen or wire fences so commonly associated with chicken ranches or the like, (8) which is so designed as to collect less foreign material than others, (9) which may be attached without necessitating the piercing of any membrane or the doing of any other injury to the bird, (10) which may be readily removable and used over and over again, and (11) which will fit any beak regardless of width.

Additional objects of my invention will be forthcoming in the following description of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of the head of a fowl depicting my improved anti-picking device, in position.

Figure 2 depicts a blank from which my improved anti-picking device is formed by deformation thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view of my improved device in its saleable form, and indicating in dot and dash lines the manner of deforming the same in applying it to the upper mandible of a fowl.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of my improved device illustrating the final form' which my improved device assumes, in applying the same to the beak of a fowl.

The device is formed from a blank I such as is illustrated in Figure 2, which is of substantially elliptical contour and having an appreciable sized V-shaped notch 3 formed in one end thereof. The notch extends for the greater portion of the longer axis of the blank, leaving a pair of corner extensions 5 and l at the open end of the notch.

In its saleable form, as illustrated in solid lines in Figure 3, it represents an intermediate stage in the final form taken by the device when applied in position on the beak of a fowl. This intermediate stage is obtained by deforming the blank of Figure 2 along the longer axis thereof into a saddle-like structure 8 adapted to straddle the upper mandible 9 of a fowl, and the corner extensions 5 and 1 are turned inwardly to a greater degree than exists in the original blank, to constitute pivot means II and I3 for the device when put to use. A spacing between the ends of the pivots is preferably maintained sufficient to permit the same to be brought into alinement with the nasal fossae l5 of the bird, with the device in straddling position on the upper mandible. In such position, the device, when applying the same in position, is further deformed, manually, by forcing the two sides toward each other and causing the pivots l l and I3 to enter the nasal fossae, whereby the device will be pivotally and securely in operative position. This makes it possible as well as convenient to apply the device to the mandible with one hand, leaving the other hand free for holding the fowl until the device has been applied. The pivots are of limited length and of inappreciable cross-sectional area, the purpose being to prevent the same from piercing the nasal membrane in applying the device, and to permit the fowl to maintain normal breathing after the same has been attached.

Aluminum lends itself admirably as the material from which to fabricate the device, as it is not only rust resistant and exceedingly light in weight, but is readily deformable manually when in sheet form, which is quite an essential characteristic in my invention, as it facilitates the manual deforming operation involved in applying the device.

The device is of such length that when apand highly desirable in a device of this character.

It will be noted for one thing, that due to the contours incorporated into the device and the formation of the pivots from the original blank, the device in its final form, in position on the upper mandible, presents no irregularities or sharp bends or protrusions which are apt to become entangled in wire fencing or screening during the normal and customary manoeuverings of birds, and thereby avoids possible injury to such birds resulting from the excitement attending such occurrences.

As another important feature of my invention, the tapering contour of the V-notch enables the device to become self-centering or self-aligning. Any movement of a fowl tending to throw the device out of position will not bring about a permanent displacement, for the device will automatically, under the effect of gravity, slide to its original proper position, relying upon the notch contour in cooperation with the upper mandible to effect such restoration.

When it is furthermore pointed out that the beaks of fowl vary somewhat in size with growth of birds as well as among such birds when full grown, the device of my invention offers an added feature of importance in that, due to its construction and manner of application, the same may be fitted to all birds, without requiring the manufacture of more than one size of device.

The device may be removed at any time without impairing its utility, simply by spreading the pivots out of engagement with the upper mandible, and so in addition to being economical of manufacture, my improved device is also economical in use.

It will be apparent from the above description of my improved device that it fulfills all the ob jects of my invention, and while I have described one embodiment in detail, the same may be susceptible to minor changes without departing from the spirit of the invention. I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the exact details set forth above except as may be necessitated by the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermediate stage of the final form which it has when in operative position, and having spaced apart opposing pivots for insertion into the nasal fossae of such fowl, said partially deformed blank being of a manually deformable material enabling added manual deformation thereof to cause the same to assume its final form with said pivots engaging in the nasal fossae of such fowl.

2. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermediate stage of the final form which it has when in operative position, and having spaced apart opposing integral pivots for insertion into the nasal fossae of such fowl, said partially deformed blank being of a manually deformable material enabling added manual deformation thereof to cause the same to assume its final form with said pivots engaging in the nasal fossae of such fowl.

3. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermediate stage of the final form which it has when in operative position, said deformed shield blank being of substantially elliptical contour and having a general V-shaped notch extending from one end along the longer axis with inwardly directed spaced apart opposing pivots at the notched end for insertion into the nasal fossae of such fowl, said partially deformed blank being of relatively thin sheet aluminum enabling added manual deformation thereof to cause the same to assume its final form with said pivots engaging in the nasal fossae of such fowl.

4. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermerdiate stage of the final form which it has when in operative position, and having spaced apart opposing pivots for insertion into the nasal fossae of such fowl, said partially deformed blank being of a manually deformable material enabling added manual deformation thereof to cause the same to assume its final form with said pivots engaging in the nasal fossae of such fowl, said pivots being of insuflicient length to pierce the nasal membrane of such fowl when said pivots are thus caused to engage in sa sal fos e,

5. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermediate stage of the final form which it has when inoperative position, and having opposing integral pivot means spaced apart a distance permitting said shield blank to straddle the upper mandible of a fowl with the pivot means in substantial alinement with the nasal fossae to enable further deformation of said deformed blank to cause said pivot means to enter into pivotal engagement with said fossae.

6. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermediate stage of the final form which it has when in operative position, and having opposing integral inwardly directed pivots spaced apart a distance permitting said shield blank to straddle the upper mandible of a fowl with the pivots in substantial alinement with the nasal fossaeto enable further deformation of said deformed blank to cause said pivots to enter into pivotal engagement with said fossae, said pivots having a cross-sectional area considerably smaller than the fossae they engage whereby to permit continued normal breathing by such fowl.

7. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermediate stage of the final form which it has when in operative position, said deformed shield blank being of substantially elliptL cal contour and having a general V-shaped notch extending from one end along the longer axis with inwardly directed integral pivot means at said notched end spaced apart a distance permitting said deformed shield blank to straddle the upper mandible of a fowl with the pivot means in substantial alinement with the nasal fossae to enable further deformation of said deformed shield blank to cause said pivot means to enter into pivotal engagement with said fossae.

8. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermediate stage of the final form which it has when in operative position, and having opposing integral pivot means spaced apart a distance permitting said deformed shield blank to straddle the upper mandible of a fowl with the pivot means in substantial alinement with the nasal fossae to enable further deformation of said deformed shield blank to cause said pivot means to enter into pivotal engagement with said fossae, said pivot means being of insufficient length to pierce the nasal membrane of such fowl when caused to enter into such pivotal engagement with said fossae.

9. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising an element adapted to straddle and lightly rest upon the upper mandible of a fowl and extend beyond the tip thereof, said element having integral inturned pivot members for engagement in the nasal fossae of a fowl, and a smooth contour free of lateral wire screen engageable projections.

10. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a saddle-like element adapted to straddle and lightly rest upon the upper mandible of a fowl and extend beyond the tip thereof, said element having integral inturned pivot members for engagement in the nasal fossae of a fowl, and a smooth contour free of lateral Wire screen engageable projections. 11. An anti-picking device for application to the beak of a fowl, comprising a shield blank deformed to an intermediate stage of the final form which it has when in operative position, and having spaced apart opposing integral pivots for insertion into the nasal fossae of such fowl, said partially deformed blank being of a manually deformable material enabling added deformation thereof to cause the same to assume its final form with said pivots engaging in the nasal fossae of such fowl, and having a smooth contour free of lateral wire screen engageable projections.

GLENN E. MITCHELL. 

